Material treating and handling apparatus



June 27, 1939.

Y .1A D. FERRY MATERIAL TREATING AND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 23. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l JVWC-MM JOSEP/ D. FERRY June 27, 1939. IJ. D. FERRY MATERIAL TREATING AND HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 23, 1956 Patented .lune 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATERIAL TRATING AND HANDLING APPARATUS Joseph D. Ferry, Harrisburg, Pa.

Application November 23, 1936, Serial No. 112,396

Claims. (Cl. 14S-194) 'I'his invention deals in general, with machines Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken,` for the preparation, including washing, of sliced Substantially on line :1i- 3A of Figure 1. or otherwise divided or comminuted vegetables, Figure 4 is a detailplan view of the nozzle dissuch aspotatoes, having a substantial starch concharging into the receiving end of the settling 5 tent and in which, during the course of treattank. I ment, a considerable proportion of small slices Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional and .broken portions of vegetablesV must be dis- View through the settling tank, taken substanposed of in addition to accumulated free starch. y,tially on line 5--5 of Figure 3.

More particularlyfthe invention iinds an iin- Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the portant application in the washing of potato complete machine. l l10 slices or chips preliminary to a cooking operation I Figure 'l is an enlarged sectional view taken and to a Washing machine such as described Centrally and longitudinally through the base of and claimed in my Patent No. 2,091,675, granted the Washing tank. August 31, 1937, with the primary objects, Figure 8 is a detail vertical transverse secl5 First, to provide a, self-cleansing washing mational view taken through the base of the wash- 16 chine, the eiilciency of which, in` its normal opingtank substantially on line 8--8 of liigule 7- eration, will be materially enhanced by reason of Figures 9 and 10 are similar viewsv taken the constant elimination of small slices and through the sediment receiver on lines 9 9 and broken pieces of potatoes and accumulations of l0l|l, respectively, 0f Figure 7, and

free starch derived from the potato slices during Figure 11 is an Aenlarged detail sectional vview 20 the washing operation, and along a portion of the conveyor shaft.

Second, the recovery of the starch in a gradual As will best be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 6, it iS accumulation apart from the Washing operation contemplated that the sliced orotherwise divided and in a. manner admitting of its ready removal orf comminuted vegeta-bles may be fed directly as a valuable by-product of the washing operafIOm a slicing 01 Cutting machine indicated Sen- 25 tion. erally at 20 into the receiving end 2i of a foram- While capable'to a considerable extent of geninous or retioulated rotatable washing drum 22- eral application, I have in the present adapta- 'The same arrangement 0f these Parts may Dietion of the invention had primarily in mind its Vvail as in my former application above referred application to awashing machine ofthe character to, the'drum 22 being rotated by a longitudinal 30 disclosed in my above mentioned application, and dIiVe Shaft 23 extending centrally through the hence, with the above general objects in mind, .drum which is disposed within and lengthwise of the further and more detailed objects as well as the Washing tank generally lndcated'at 24. the means by which they are attained,v and the 'I'he other end 25 of drum 22 outlets above and beneiicial results obtained thereby, will be better discharges the washed vegetable slices upon a 85 understood and more thoroughly appreciated laterally extending conveyor 26 for their transfrom the following description and by reference portation to a suitable frying or cooking apparato the accompanying drawings, which. form a tus with which the present inventionhas, otherpart of this specification. wise, no connection. The conveyor 26, as seen by 40 In the detailed description to follow, it is undera cOinpariScn 0f Figures 1 and 2 eXtell'ClS both lat- 40 stood that the specified embodiments of the ineraily and upwardly from the tank 24 at a point vention eonstitutemerely the best so far devised f adjacent to the discharge end 21 of the latter for carrying the same into practical use and that and may be driven'by a Sprocket 011811123 extendtheinvention is not to be thereby limited nor ingfrom a sprocket wheel 29 on that portion of construed except where justified by its ob-vious the d i'um Shaft 23\.DI'0J'ectllf18' eXteriOrly of the 45 essentials and the terms of the claims. tank end 21. Any suitable means for rotating In the Adrawings `in which like numerals rep- Shaft 23 and drum 24 may be applied t0 this end 4 resent like parts throughout the several figures, 0f the Shaft- Figure 1- is a longitudinal sectional view sub- It is further contemplated in this` instance,

50 stantially through a vegetable Washing machine aS in my previous application ahcve mentioned, 50

of the general type of my above mentioned applithat water for the washing operatOnisupplied in cation, with the addition of my present improveany suitable manner to tank 24, will attain a ments. s level above the drum shaft 23 and will, during Figure 2 is an end view showing in elevation the rotation of the latter, circulate through the discharge end of the machine. ,i Y drum and endwise of the tankby reason of lm 55 pellers 30 within the drum and rotating therewith. During this circulation, small slices and broken bits of vegetable matter as well as the starch given off by the vegetables during the cleansing thereof gradually permeate the water to such an extent as to materially reduce the efficiency of the cleansing unless removed from the water or unless the latter is frequently replenished, usually with loss of the starch or a major portion thereof.

The present invention, therefore, contemplates among other things that the tank 24 have a lower V-shaped portion entirely therealong as plainly seen in Figure 3, the lower portions 3| of its side walls inclining toward one another to form a lower, central trough 32 preferably inclined downwardly from the receiving end 33 of the tank to its discharge end 21. This trough-like lower portion of the tank is divided, by a sexies of longitudinally spaced transverse plates or baille walls 34 having the upper edges thereof terminating below the drum 24 and forming a longitudinal series of settling spaces or chambers 35 which, while in open communication with the interior of the tank, and without substantially disturbing the circulation of fluid therein along the line indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, provide for a comparatively quiescent state of the fluid therein so that the free starch and small slices and broken pieces of vegetables will readily settle to the bottom of the tank.

The spaces or chambers 35 may have partial covers in the nature of horizontal plates 36 restlng on the baille walls 34 and the converging side walls 3| of the tank to aid in .establishing the quiescent state of the tank liquid in the region of the settling chambers 35. The plates 36 may be of different shapes but for the purpose of illustration are herein shown as being flat and provided with downwardly deflected adjacent edges 31 in spaced apart relation as best seen in Figure 1. While the plates 36 may serve to improve the general eiliciency, such plates are not essential to the operation.

Within the lower bight portion of the troughlikebase 32 of the washing tank 24, a conveyor tube 38 is fixed, it being seen in Figures 1 and 7 that the upper portion of this tube is cut away along substantially the full length of each of the spaces or chambers 35 so that the settling material will readily find its way into the convolutions of a helical or screw conveyor 39 which operates within tube 38.

. 'I'he rear end of screw conveyor 39 projects into a bearing box 49 secured to the rear wall 33 of the washing tank 24 and at its forward end the conveyor 39 has a portion the convolutions of which are pitched to a greater angle and more closely disposed for creation of a proportionately increased feed pressure within the forward end of tube 38, the latter of which extends slidably through an opening in the end wall 21 of the tank 24 and projects into a grinder housing 4|. 'I'he rear end of conveyor 39 is axially engaged by an adjusting screw 42 threaded through the end of bearing box 40.

As clearly shown in Figure 7, the grinder housing 4| is bolted to the end wall 21 of the tank 24 and the forwardly extending shaft 43 of the Screw conveyor 39 projects therethrough and forwardly therebeyond, its extreme forward end having a sprocket wheel 44 connected by a sprocket chain 45 with a sprocket wheel 46 on the drum shaft, see Figure 2. The grinder within housing 4| consists of a pair of circular grinding plates or disks 41 and 48, the former of which is stationarily secured to the forward end of tube 38 and the latter of which is locked by a screw 480 on conveyor shaft 43. The central portions of these disks have opposing guide ribs 49 and 50, respectively, the angular disposition of which tends to guide the material forced between the grinding plates, outwardly between the flat annular grinding surfaces of the plates best seen at 5| and 52, respectively, in Figures 9 and 10.

Around the conveyor shaft 43 is a sleeve 53 which is threaded through a bearing 54 of the front wall of grinder housing 4|. On the inner end of sleeve 53 is a xed collar 55 between which and the grinding plate 48 is a hard metal washer 56 and thus by means of sleeve 53, adjusted Ly its intermediate nut 51, and the adjusting screw 42, before mentioned, the screw conveyor may be adjusted lengthwise to regulate the effective spacing of the grinding plates 41 and 48, the sleeve 53 solidly backing the adjustable grinding plate 48 at all times and being secured by a lock nut 58. At its forward end. sleeve 53 carries a packing gland 59 surrounding the shaft 43.

It is intended that means corresponding to that disclosed in my aforementioned application shall be employed for removing the starch matter which accumulates in the nature of foam or froth in the immediate region of the surface of the liquid in the washing tank 24 at the outlet portion thereof. As generally disclosed herein, such means includes a spray head for directing a spray of water toward and into the slotted, screen covered receiver or overflow member 63 and the starch along with the water from the spray head entering the receiver is conducted to the grinder housing 4| through a pipe 64.

Material settling into the screw conveyor 39 is forced thereby into the grinder housing 4| between the grinder plates and 52 by which it ls finely reduced and such ground material together with the foamy starch and liquid entering the housing through the pipe 64 and the additional liquid entering the housing through a small opening 69 in the lower portion of the end wall 21 of the washing tank discharges through a valve controlled outlet pipe 6| into a. centrifugal pump 62. The suction of the pump also aids in drawing the surface starch into the housing 4| through the pipe 64 and the receiver 63.

The pump 62 may be driven by a separate motor 65 as seen in Figure 2, and its discharge pipe 66 is extended upwardly and laterally to the opposite side of tank 24 with respect to the discharging conveyor 26, and angled rearward over the forward end of a settling tank 61 which, as seen in Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6, is mounted lengthwise of the upper portion of the washing tank and is generally of the rectangular form shown. From its front to its rear this settling tank has a series of stepped transverse partition walls 68 dividing the same into a series of spaces for the reception of individually removable settling trays 69 of progressively less height or depth from front to rear so that the material flows from pump discharge pipe 66 into the deepest forward tray and gradually overflows from one tray to the other throughout the series Each of the settling trays has handles 16 whereby it may be conveniently removed for discharging its collected contents. To prevent over agitation of the liquid in the forward tray by the discharge from pipe 66, a discharge nozzle 1| seen in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is preferably used, with an outstanding flaring deector 12 below the dis' charge orifice.

Thus in the course of its overflow, all material of a nature to settle from the pump discharged material ground in the manner previously described, inds its way to the bottom of one of the series of stepped settling trays 69.

As shown particularly in Figures 5 and 6, there is provided in the wall between the settling tank E1 and the washing tank 2l adjacent the rear end thereof a screened overflow opening 13 establishing communication between the settling tank 61 and the washing tank 2l, such opening being arranged above the level ofthe liquid in the washing tank so as to allow the liquid, free of settlings, to iiow back into the washing tank.

Such material as collects on the surface of the liquid in the settling tank 61 adjacent the screened opening I3 may be skimmed off from time to time.

` It is also illustrated in Figure 5 that a valve controlled pipe 14 communicates with the rear end of the settling tank 61 at a point below the screened opening 13 sothat if desired or preferred the water may be piped to the sewer as distinguished from being returned to the washing 'drum tank 24 through the screened overflow opening 13.

A drain pipe 15 havingbranches 1li leading from the bottom of the several tray compartmentsis provided for periodically cleaning the entire settling tank 61. This is shown particularly in Figure 5, and from Figures 1 and 8 it will be observed that the lower trough 32 of .the washing tank 2l has a normally closed lateral outlet 18 which is similarly employed as a drain during periodical cleaning oi! the tank.

It is obvious from the foregoing that provision is made to eiectively remove from the fluid of the washing tank all materials of a nature ca-Y pable of settling and, after grinding, these materials are permitted to settle in amanner permitting of convenient ease recovery from time to time fso that greatest attention may be coniined to the operation of the washer and its `effectiveness and emciency considerably enhanced by reason of constant removal of such matter from the circulation of the washing fluid. It is equally obvious that the desired results are obtained by the use of means capable of achieving lthe same in an economical practical way as well as by means which are themselves of a strongV durable nature.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine for washing cut potatoes, inciudingV a perforated washing drum and a tank V'for holding the drum and a iluid circulating through the drum, means forming a series of settling chambers in the tank below and opening upwardly into the circulating :duid beneath the drum, a conveyor also in the tank below`and communicating with said chambers for constantiy discharging settled solids therefrom, a grinder housing, a grinder therein into the housing and receiving the material at the discharge end of said conveyor, a settling tank, and means for conveying the material from said grinder housing into the settling tank, said for tank liquid and the potato said drum being provided with means settling -tank having a iluid overow opening into the washing tank.

2.` In a machine for washing cut potatoes, including a perforated washing drum and a tank for holding the drum and a fluid circulating through the drum, means forming a series of settling chambers in the tank below and opening upwardly into the circulating fluid beneath the drum. a conveyor also in the tank below and communicating with said chambers for constantly discharging settled solids therefrom, a grinder housing, a grinder therein discharging int'o the housing and receiving the material at the discharge end of said conveyor, a settling tank, and means for conveying the material from said grinder housing into the settling tank. said settling tank having a plurality of settling trays and a uid overflow opening into the washing tank. 1

3. In combination with a washing Vtank for washing cut potatoes in a washing fluid, means in said tank for continuously settling solids out of the washing uid, means in said tank for continuously conveying the solids with portions of the fluid out of the tank, means for grinding the solids so conveyed from the tank, a settling tank adjacent the washing tank, means for conveying the ground material and iiuid from the grinder into said settling tank, and means for overflowing uid from the settling tank into the washing tank.

4. Ina machine for washing potato slices, a tankfor the reception of a. liquid to wash the potato slices and to form a. vehicle therefor, a rotatable ,perforated drum in the tank and the liquid therein and having inlet and outlet ends slices carried thereby, inducing a circulation of the liquid through the drum from the inlet to the outlet ends thereof and in the reverse direction below the drum to extract starch from'the potato slices. and means for creating a quiscent area in the liquid below the drum and for forming a plurality of settling chambers in the lower portion of the tank for receiving the settling starch extracted from the potato slices, means communicating with said chambers for discharging the settled starch from the tank, and means for receivingand discharging from the tank the starch accumulating in the immediate'region of the surface of the liquid.

5. In a machine for washing cut potatoes, a tank for the reception of a washing liquid. a ro tatable perforated` drum inthe upper portion of said tank and the liquid therein. a conveyor in the bottom portion of said tank and extending lengthwise thereof, a plurality ol. longitudinally spaced substantially T-shaped baille members extending entireiy across the tank and supported upon said conveyor tube and the side walls of said tank to denne settling chambers below the drum for receiving starch extractedirom the potatoes and imdersized potato cuts screened out ofthe perforated drum into the tank. the upper portion of said. conveyor tube being cut away at spaced points to establish communication between the settling chambers and the interior of the tube, and a screw conveyor in lsaid tube for discharging the settled matter from the tank. 

